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packman

(16,296 posts) Thu Jun 9, 2016, 12:17 PM Jun 2016

Poor? - Get some chickens - Bill Gates answer to poverty [View all]

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Bill Gates has decided to tell people living in extreme poverty that the solution to their woes lies in raising chickens.

"The Gates Foundation, a charity run by Bill and his wife, has launched a drive to help 30 per cent of people in rural sub-Saharan Africa keep hens and roosters that have been vaccinated to keep them free of disease."

About to launch a barrage of Insensitivity Bullets at Bill's statement - but, he may be on the right track with good intentions.

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/1256098/keep-chickens-if-you-want-a-better-life-billionaire-bill-gates-tells-poor-people/

73 replies

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Highlight:

Poor? - Get some chickens - Bill Gates answer to poverty [View all] packman Jun 2016 OP

it is hard to have chickens when you can barely afford an apartment. hollysmom Jun 2016 #1

These chickens would be in Sub-Sahara Africa. Boudica the Lyoness Jun 2016 #3

Poor people in rural sub-Saharan Africa aren't living in apartments. The Velveteen Ocelot Jun 2016 #4

Not to mention the fertilizer for any gardens they grow. I know jwirr Jun 2016 #23

Yes. This is a very old and established form of aid. Hortensis Jun 2016 #55

The commons needs to be returned to the people felix_numinous Jun 2016 #2

The original commons was destroyed Igel Jun 2016 #13

That's not what destroyed the commons Warpy Jun 2016 #52

The various enclosure acts of the 1600s and 1700s. Odin2005 Jun 2016 #57

Who knows more about poverty than the guy who lives in this "house?" PSPS Jun 2016 #5

Probably not most of those who live in the suburbs and post their opinions on the internet Major Nikon Jun 2016 #8

Why is it so important to hate people who are wealthy, esp. the ones who are helping? nolabear Jun 2016 #12

Yes, this is a good idea for some but not all poor people. raging moderate Jun 2016 #37

I hear ya. I was mostly town and city dwelling poor. Chickens weren't the answer. nolabear Jun 2016 #39

This is sub-Sahara Africa, not the US. cleanhippie Jun 2016 #44

It looks more like a resort… Is that one of Bill's houses. midnight Jun 2016 #16

I can only imagine the convenience afforded by believing only poor are aware of the poor LanternWaste Jun 2016 #35

FFS, really? He gave 100s of millions to charity. nt Logical Jun 2016 #64

An idea straight out of "The Ugly American." nt R. P. McMurphy Jun 2016 #6

Why? Igel Jun 2016 #19

IIRC one of the groups in the book asked America . . . R. P. McMurphy Jun 2016 #43

Bill just happens to be right, but don't let that stand in the way of a good rant Major Nikon Jun 2016 #7

Way back in the 60s one of our friends worked in the Peace jwirr Jun 2016 #25

"I still say that anything that eats eggs hfojvt Jun 2016 #50

Smart, my impression is that chickens were a foundation for poor rural living, eggs, chickens, and braddy Jun 2016 #9

Good idea but possible drawbacks, depending on how it's done JHB Jun 2016 #10

I believe they do. The better run global livestock programs work well these days. nolabear Jun 2016 #14

Well, except for ChickenGuru Jun 2016 #33

Agreed. I posted a great little paper down thread on the varieties of mgmnt. nolabear Jun 2016 #36

Ever raise Chickens? Wellstone ruled Jun 2016 #11

Here. Try this on for facts. nolabear Jun 2016 #17

That is incorrect. You must not know much about chickens. The Velveteen Ocelot Jun 2016 #20

Agree with the Wellstone ruled Jun 2016 #22

And this would be in a rural, basically subsistence-level environment. The Velveteen Ocelot Jun 2016 #24

And yes, Wellstone ruled Jun 2016 #40

Have been around small chicken producers all my life. If they jwirr Jun 2016 #28

My friend you nailed it. Wellstone ruled Jun 2016 #42

Yes, and we are lucky because none of us are trying to make jwirr Jun 2016 #46

Good on you folks. Wellstone ruled Jun 2016 #47

Wow, I'm impressed JimDandy Jun 2016 #51

We still produce small amounts of free range eggs. The sale of eggs pays for the food, plus a small JCMach1 Jun 2016 #63

The Heifer organization has spread these small farms all over jwirr Jun 2016 #67

Exactly... and we in the West need to see the small-scale we are talking about here... JCMach1 Jun 2016 #73

He always manages to vaccinate… Good guy…. midnight Jun 2016 #15

Owning a chicken or other animal can make a difference for those living in the very poorest Glimmer of Hope Jun 2016 #18

This message was self-deleted by its author IDemo Jun 2016 #21

Where I live you have to get permission from surrounding neighbors The Velveteen Ocelot Jun 2016 #26

This message was self-deleted by its author IDemo Jun 2016 #31

My neighbors had chickens for a year and I only just heard them a few weeks ago Beaverhausen Jun 2016 #32

This message was self-deleted by its author IDemo Jun 2016 #38

I know they can be loud but honestly, my neighbors have I think 3 and I only just heard them Beaverhausen Jun 2016 #45

Bill gates charity is actually very effective and data driven La Lioness Priyanka Jun 2016 #27

I want chicken MFM008 Jun 2016 #29

Ever heard of Heifer International? Beaverhausen Jun 2016 #30

Thank you! Glimmer of Hope Jun 2016 #68

^ THIS eShirl Jun 2016 #71

This message was self-deleted by its author randys1 Jun 2016 #34

If anyone wants to know what they can do to help people living in poverty, ASK THEM! hunter Jun 2016 #41

rather have chickens than windows 10 dembotoz Jun 2016 #48

Didn't he grow up rich? Kimberly1990219 Jun 2016 #49

He is not the bad guy. He has gave millions to good causes. Bitch about the Koch brothers. nt Logical Jun 2016 #65

And just what the hell are people too poor to feed themselves going to feed those chickens? Warpy Jun 2016 #53

Some of the first domesticated chickens came from Africa Major Nikon Jun 2016 #60

I don't trust dishonest business folks to help the world just out of their own sense of compassion. Rex Jun 2016 #54

This is a good example of "missing the point". Odin2005 Jun 2016 #56

I think you've missed the point, actually. The Velveteen Ocelot Jun 2016 #59

The Sun? gollygee Jun 2016 #58

He could just as easily drop a billion or two on Heifer International KamaAina Jun 2016 #61

i believe he is working w heifer. mopinko Jun 2016 #72

There's already an organization that helps rural farming poor around the world. haele Jun 2016 #62

It's not a terrible idea. Quantess Jun 2016 #66

I work with several very poor families, phylny Jun 2016 #69

Really good idea pediatricmedic Jun 2016 #70